Physical evidence of Makassan contact Makassan contact with Australia

macassan stone arrangement near yirrkala, northern territory. photo ray norris

archeological remains of makassar processing plants 18th , 19th centuries still @ port essington, anuru bay , groote eylandt, along stands of makassan introduced tamarind trees. macknight , others note these areas have produced pieces of metal, broken pottery , glass, coins, fishhooks , broken clay pipes. macknight notes of ceramic material found suggests nineteenth-century date.

in 1916, 2 bronze cannons found on small island in napier broome bay, on northern coast of western australia. scientists @ western australian museum in fremantle have made detailed analysis , have determined these weapons swivel guns , of late 18th century makassan, rather european, origin. flinders account confirms makassans met armed , perahus carried small cannons.

in january 2012, swivel gun found 2 years before @ dundee beach near darwin reported web news sources , australian press of portuguese origin. initial analysis museum , art gallery of northern territory indicates of south east asian origin. museum holds 7 guns of south east asian manufacture in collections. swivel gun of south east asian manufacture, found in darwin in 1908, held museum of south australia, , possibly of makassan origin.

there significant evidence of contact makassan fishers in rock art , bark painting of northern australia, makassan perahu prominent feature.

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